President Bola Tinubu’s political chest has passed another test as both the Senate and House of Representatives have approved the state of emergency rule he declared in Rivers State.
Some analysts had foreseen a hurdle for him after he announced the decision on Tuesday, due to the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s camp and that of his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, who have 27 state legislators as his acolytes.
Critics, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, and opposition parties, have also faulted the step, saying Tinubu lacked the power to suspend the democratic structures in Rivers.
Although the opposition parties have members in the National Assembly, however, the emergency declaration sailed through within the two days the constitution gives the lawmakers.
While the failure of the controversial decision in the National Assembly could have dealt Tinubu’s sagacity – which some see as audacity – a blow, his ‘victory’ in getting the decision okayed seem s to have boosted his profile.
